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Buy A Starry Print, Help Friends of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

A gorgeous photo of the Milky Way over Raspberry Island Light at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore can be yours, with all the proceeds going to Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Photo by Mark Weller and John and Andrea Rummel

This year's photo depicts the Milky Way raising over the Raspberry Island Lighthouse. It was taken on the morning of July 3, 2011, near new-moon conditions following the summer solstice.

According to photographers Mark Weller and John and Andrea Rummel, they selected that date because that's when "the summer Milky Way is at its brightest and dramatically hangs just above the horizon."

"A three-and-a-half-minute exposure, this shot was made possible by mounting the camera (a Canon 7D) on top of a telescope with a slow-motion drive, making it possible to cancel the Earth's rotation," they add. "Allowing the camera to capture an incredibly sharp and saturated image, this is one of the most delightful views of the heavens. A separate three-minute exposure was taken with the telescope drive turned off to photograph the light station."

A framed 26-inch by 21-inch copy of the print, made on archival cotton, runs $330 (shipping and handling included).

Check out the following video to learn more about the process they undertook to snap the photo.

This new photo, like the two gems before it, are truly works of art. They capture the awesome beauty, solitude and grandeur of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Weller and the Rummels deserve a standing ovation. Bravo!